RAW FROM THE SAW: Top 5 Video Games To Play This Semester

Gaming in college can be difficult. Whether you want to binge hours upon hours of Skyrim, or just want something fun to play with your roommate in your spare time, it can be tough watching your beloved console collect dust.

Luckily, this spring has a lot to look forward to with great games that could easily fit into any college schedule. While we don’t encourage truancy, here are five games that will make you question how “mandatory” your 8 a.m. attendance is.

#1) For Honor (PC, PS4, XB1) – Feb. 14

Ubisoft’s For Honor is a third-person multiplayer action game that’s sure to satisfy the inner warlord in us all. Players can choose between three factions—the Knights, Vikings, and Samurai—and fight in heartracing online medieval battles. Boasting deep, yet accessible combat, as well as a rewarding loot and armor customization system, For Honor is a game made for blowing off steam, one axe swing at a time.

Your roommate is in class for three hours while you have the day off? You could sink hours into the story, flesh out the character customization options, or memorize combos for each of the 12 unique fighters, or simply work your way up the ranks in each of the five distinct multiplayer game modes. Only have half an hour of free time a week? Hop in and out of games with convenient quick play options and controls that make so much sense, they become second nature after the second game. It’s fun to watch and easy to learn, so don’t be surprised if you end up having to pass the controller off to your friends.

For Honor was released on Feb. 14 on PS4, XBox One, and PC and received positive reviews, scoring a 77 on MetaCritic within a week of it’s release.

#2) Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4) – Feb. 28

Slated to replace the Uncharted franchise as Sony’s next big intellectual property (IP), Horizon: Zero Dawn promises an incredible looking open world full of secrets and excitement. The player will follow Aloy, a young woman inspired by Ygritte from Game of Thrones, as she learns how humanity devolved into a tribal society while enigmatic mechanical behemoths (giant robot dinosaurs) have taken over the reclaimed planet. Find answers as you explore a beautiful open world created by Guerilla Games, the people behind the Killzone franchise. If you have a PS4, you’ve probably already pre-ordered Horizon: Zero Dawn, and if you haven’t, why haven’t you? There are giant robot dinosaurs!

Horizon: Zero Dawn is the perfect game for anyone looking to escape. Horizon’s powerful narrative is reinforced through a compelling story, fluid gameplay, and breathtaking visuals. With 30-40 hours of story content, plus countless hours of sidequests, Horizon will be the go-to game to let you forget about the wave of assignments come midterms week. Should you study? Probably, but Aloy needs to upgrade her bow and that research paper isn’t going help.

#3) The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild (Switch, Wii U) – March 3

At the Nintendo Switch Press Event in January, Nintendo finally confirmed that, yes, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be available at the Switch’s launch on March 3rd. Whether you’re looking forward to the next-in-the-line of stellar Zelda games, curious to see how the classic formula fits in an open world, or need something to justify buying a Switch at launch, Breath of the Wild is almost upon us and it looks glorious.

BotW’s main advantage lies in the Switch platform and its versatility in play options (aside from the fact that it’s the most anticipated Nintendo game since 2013). Not only will Zelda look great on your HDTV, but if you play on the Switch, you have the option to take the console to go in its handheld mode.This is perfect for the hour gap between classes. No need to go back to your room; simply find a comfortable spot in the library or a dining hall, plug in headphones, and play Nintendo’s next AAA game while you wait for your next class. Nintendo claims the Switch can get up to 3 hours of battery life while playing BotW in handheld form, perfect for a long bus ride or a gap in your class schedule.

#4) 1-2-Switch (Switch) – March 3

1-2 Switch looks like a combination between Warioware and Wii Sports and it looks interesting to say the least. Making use of the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers, 1-2-Switch is a series of wacky mini-games that highlight the HD Rumble feature in each Joy-Con.

Promoting “Face-to-Face Play”, Nintendo designed 1-2-Switch to be played without focusing on the screen, rather on the other player. This not only makes for a more personal and competitive party game, but it encourages anyone regardless of gaming experience to jump in and play with friends.

#5) Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands (PC, PS4, XB1) – March 7

The 14th game in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands tasks player to take down the Santa Blanca drug cartel in Bolivia. Whether playing solo with three AI companions or with playing co-op with up to three friends, players will need both intelligent tactics and precise execution to take back the Wildlands in this open world strategic shooter.

Don’t want to go out this weekend? Party-up with your friends and go on different missions that require thought, reflexes, and cooperation for a clean victory. Ghost Recon is a game for groups of gaming friends looking for consistent co-op fun.